CMU community supports students, families during move-in

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s one reason people from every corner of the Central Michigan University community volunteered to help thousands of first-year students and their families and supporters settle into campus life during residence hall move-in during the last week of August.

More than 110 volunteers showed up with a helping hand; from faculty and staff, to alumni, community members and even student-athletes. The number of volunteers more than doubled this year, according to move-in coordinator and Assistant Director for Residential Education Audrey Elworth.

“It has made life much easier that we have all these volunteers, and it has been really rewarding to see people make connections. We are so grateful, amazed and blown away by the support that we've gotten this year,” Elworth said.

“Moving thousands of students into their campus homes in a short period of time requires an extraordinary level of coordination, and we simply could not do it without the faculty and staff who volunteer alongside our Residence Life team,” said Nick Sweeton, executive director of Residence Life. “It’s about helping students and families navigate an important transition, reducing some of the stress that naturally comes with it, and making sure their first experience on campus reflects the welcoming and supportive community we want CMU to be.”

Volunteers worked a variety of roles, moving as many as 100 students each hour through centralized check-in at the Student Activity Center, guiding vehicles brimming with furniture to the correct parking lot, and hauling that furniture up to residence hall rooms.

Some of that heavy lifting was done by CMU student-athletes on the football team. Nearly 50 players took time off from pre-season practices to show up at East Community and carry items from cars to rooms.

“We’re always trying to help our community in any way. Coach Drinkall is a big advocate for helping others,” said Collin Stare, a freshman defensive lineman from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I think helping other people is a huge deal, and having respect for others and the community shows who you really are as a person. We’re not just here for ourselves; we’re here for our community.”

Lee Parker is an instruction and outreach librarian at CMU, and did not hesitate to sign-up for a shift guiding students to pick up their room keys.

“I chose to get involved because I know how stressful moving in was for me, and I thought this would be a great way to get connected with students,” Parker said.

Some arriving students were even greeted by Mt. Pleasant Mayor Boomer Wingard, who wanted to show the support of the community surrounding the campus.

“If I can welcome new students here and make sure they are feeling part of this community, I can show them the community is really invested in the university,” Wingard said. “It demonstrates that when our two communities and organizations work well together, everything just goes better. Also, I just get fired up!”

Parents and supporters noticed the enthusiastic effort of volunteers, who made the intimidating move-in process a seamless one, and made their arrival feel less like leaving home and more like coming home.

“Everything we’ve come to at Central has been really well organized and easy, so we weren’t really afraid of this process because they seem to have it together,” said Julie Swanson, a parent from Muskegon.

At the end of an exhausting yet rewarding move-in week, coordinator Audrey Elworth believes the volunteer effort is another example of the culture of support and care that runs deep throughout CMU.

“It's a pretty special thing. I think most of our students are drawn to CMU because of our community. What they experience in orientation or during their tours, seeing the community feel, having it be emulated right here when they get to move in, I think just reinforces what we do for our students and how we want to continue to show up for them.”